Chapter 335: Harming the Dawn's Commoners

"Pear Princess, had I not misjudged, this incense, while intensifying desire, also has strong side effects."

"Not only you, but also another person, has a large amount of the drug's effect in their body."

"The child in your womb will either be premature or miscarried."

"Even if it is saved, it is highly likely to be mentally deficient, or even a monster."

The court physician's tone was heavy.

A physician's most dreaded sight is this situation.

Bai Li suddenly lost all strength, her voice trembling: "According to what you say, even if I am pregnant, I cannot give the Emperor a healthy child?"

"Yes!"

The court physician sighed: "This is why I must wait until the Emperor has left before speaking."

"Whether to keep it or not is entirely up to you, Princess."

"If you wish, then please, Princess, carefully nurture yourself."

Bai Li said nothing.

She sat dazed on the bed, as if her soul had been drawn out.

The court physician saw this.

Did not linger.

Left a prescription for conditioning the body, took leave and departed.

Nanzhu saw the court physician away.

He hurried to Bai Li, softly comforting: "Princess, nothing will happen."

"Didn't the court physician also say there is a certain chance the child will be healthy?"

"Can't be sure…"

"Hehe." Bai Li forced a bitter smile, tightly grasping Nanzhu's hand: "You don't understand how much I long for a child."

"But I know how hard it is for me to give birth to a healthy child."

Nanzhu's eyes were full of concern, like a younger sister's: "Princess, you are still so young, and the Emperor dotes on you…"

"Dotes on me?" Bai Li's gaze involuntarily fell on the Incense Burner by the window.

She forced a bitter smile: "Do you know that I once had a child with Yan Wang, but Yan Wang forced a potent Fertility Suppressing Medicine into me."

"Since that time, my body has been damaged."

Bai Li's eyes reddened, crying visibly: "Later I tried once, to no avail; in less than two months, the child would leave me."

She clutched tightly at the clothing over her belly with both hands.

No matter what others think, she is ultimately just a woman.

Just an ordinary woman who wants to become a mother.

"How can it be so?" Nanzhu cried alongside: "There must still be a way, didn't the court physician say so?"

"As long as the Princess carefully nurtures herself, there is still hope!"

"How can I calm my mind!" Bai Li slammed the medicine bowl, "The Empress deliberately makes things difficult, thinking I'm truly foolish—can't you see?"

"If she learns of my condition and tells the Emperor, who knows what will happen?"

Panic rose in Bai Li's eyes.

She seized Nanzhu's hand: "You quickly go handle something for me."

"Go to Fengdu and find an old woman."

"She originally worked for Yan Wang's manor, named Zhao Chunlan."

Kunning Palace.

Night deep, the world silent.

All lanterns in the courtyard were extinguished; only moonlight fell, faintly revealing the courtyard's outline.

Wan Tang reclined on a lounge chair.

In front of the nearby flower thicket, a person knelt.

The shade of a tree completely concealed her; she knelt there, reporting the situation in detail.

"I understand now."

Wan Tang, after hearing the other finish, casually took a Gold Bracelet from her wrist and handed it to Xiao Shunzi: "Reward her."

"Find an opportunity to send her to her home."

The figure in the shade bowed repeatedly and quietly withdrew.

Xiao Shunzi stood again before Wan Tang: "Master, I didn't expect her to be pregnant."

"Now is the time we need a child, should we…"

"No need!" Wan Tang coldly rejected: "I find it filthy."

"Xiao Shunzi, the person she mentioned just now, did you hear clearly?" Wan Tang asked.

Xiao Shunzi hurriedly nodded: "Nubi, I will arrange someone to find them right away."

"Hmm!" Wan Tang responded.

She continued: "Now Pear Princess is pregnant, and this Imperial harem is entering a tumultuous season."

"Karma's cycle—whether the child can be saved, whether she wants it or not, depends on her destiny."

Xiao Shunzi, listening to Wan Tang, had eyes full of worry: "Master, I'm afraid she knows she can't keep it yet will make a big deal of it."

"Heh!" Wan Tang sneered, indifferently saying: "Let her be."

She said this while looking at the gradually yellowing ginkgo leaves.

She whispered, "Summer draws to a close, autumn approaches."

If you have time to attend to a woman, you'd be better off properly caring for the common folk.

At this point, Xiao Shunzi's face was filled with solemnity: "Today the three senior governors rushed to the Capital."

Xiao Dongzi reported that the governors' anger was hard to quell, taxes were increased, and the people were suffering beyond words.

This year's weather is strange, and the growth of crops in many places is worrisome. Not to mention taxes; even basic food and clothing may become hard to secure.

Merchants everywhere are also lamenting. To evade taxes, most have fled to neighboring countries to make a living.

Now only a few plains are expected to have a bountiful harvest this year. Yet under the heavy taxes, only a small amount of grain may be left for winter.

These governors now intend to have the Emperor reduce taxes and mobilize grain so that the people can spend winter peacefully.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Shunzi was also rather moved.

His tone grew angry: "That Pear Concubine is truly despicable, and the Emperor as well—how could anyone truly listen to her?"

"The idea the Pear Concubine suggested is nothing more than a spark," Wan Tang said, her face heavy.

Calmly analyzing: "The Emperor is no fool; he can cut the fire at its source, but he won't take things to the extreme."

"This is just Chu Yunzheng; after all, he's a fierce tiger trapped in the deep palace."

"Even though he believes he has endured countless hardships, he has never truly seen human suffering."

"When he issued the orders, he still left a sliver of hope. Yet he didn't know that once those orders reached the localities, they would be stripped layer by layer by local officials."

"In the end, lending grain to the people will turn into bone‑cracking, marrow‑sucking."

"If Chu Yunzheng even cuts his losses, Fengqi Kingdom can remain stable. But if he persists stubbornly, many people will struggle to survive the winter."

Although the matter is only just showing signs, one can already foresee scenes of living beings scorched and starving corpses everywhere.

Wan Tang, feeling reluctant, said calmly, "Xiao Shunzi, give the orders."

"Prepare for disaster relief."

Xiao Shunzi panicked and hurried, "Master, didn't you just say there was still a sliver of hope?"

"This palace cannot gamble with the lives of Fengqi Kingdom's people."

"After all, Fengqi Kingdom now lacks a Three-way Stalemate, and no one in the court can challenge it."

"He likely knows it's wrong yet still insists on going his own way."

Xiao Shunzi's eyes dimmed.

His voice grew reflective: "Think back three years ago, Nubi and Master were only trying to survive."

"Never imagined that one day the struggles within the Imperial harem would affect the common people."

Wan Tang forced a bitter smile: "Once you step on this road, there's no turning back."

Wan Tang reached out and caught a falling Yín xìng leaf.

Staring at the bleak, pale moonlight, she admonished, "Xiao Shunzi, tell me, White Pear knows this child will be saved; what will she do with this child?"

Naturally, she will frame the Empress and plot against the Imperial Heir!

Wan Tang's mouth curled up, she snorted coldly, "Hmph!"

"Then let her secret stay well hidden."